The Contribution of EEG to the Diagnosis of Dementia

Changes induced by cerebrovascular damage CVD and amigdalo-hippocampal atrophy AHC on brain rhythmicity as revealed by scalp electroencephalography EEG were evaluated in a cohort of subjects with mild cognitive impairment MCI in order to detect different EEG patterns due to the vascular or degenerative impairment. All subjects underwent EEG recording and magnetic resonance imaging MRI. EEGs were recorded at rest. Relative power was separately computed for delta, theta, alpha1, alpha2, and alpha 3 frequency bands. Increased delta power and decreased alpha2 power were associated with the load of cerebrovascular damage CVD. Moreover, the theta-alpha 1 ratio could be a reliable index for the estimation of the individual extent of CV damage. No association of vascular damage was observed with alpha3 power. On the other side, moderate hippocampal atrophy was related to an increase of alpha2 and alpha3 frequency power ratio. Our results show that different EEG markers are associated to vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease AD. EEG markers could be expression of different global network pathological changes, helping in differentiation of prodromal AD from vascular demented patients. MCI stated that EEG markers could have a prospective value in differential diagnosis between vascular and degenerative MCI.

KEYWORDS

EEG, Dementia, Brain Rhythms

Cite this paper

Moretti, D. 2014 The Contribution of EEG to the Diagnosis of Dementia. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 7, 546-562. doi: 10.4236-jbise.2014.78056.